Neptune Energy and its joint venture partners BP and JAPEX today announced the beginning of the subsea construction phase of the Seagull tie-back project.

TechnipFMC, working under the Neptune Energy Alliance Agreement, has deployed the Apache II pipelay vessel to start the pipe-in-pipe installation, laying approximately 5km of pipe connecting the Egret manifold to the Seagull development.

Neptune Energy’s UK Managing Director, Alexandra Thomas, said: “Seagull is an important project for Neptune, its partners and the UK. It is expected to produce 50,000 boe per day (gross) and supports UK security of supply.

“This is a key milestone for Seagull – the first step in offshore execution of the project. We continue to work with our contractors and suppliers, focussing on the safe deployment of people, vessels, and equipment and managing the challenges associated with the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

TechnipFMC Vice President, Commercial & Projects UK, Mediterranean & Caspian, Bill Morrice, said: “We are delighted to see the first offshore execution milestone on the project come to fruition. Despite the challenging backdrop of COVID-19 we have worked collaboratively with Neptune as one team to deliver our scopes to date both safely and efficiently.

“This comes as a result of the valuable contribution from our design, engineering, HSEQ, procurement and fabrication teams and we look forward to continuing our working relationship with Neptune to achieve first oil at the Seagull development.”

TechnipFMC’s Normand Mermaid was mobilised in late August to provide pre-lay activities, including surveying and boulder removal. Following the pipe installation, its Normand Ranger will undertake trenching activities for the development.

Seagull Project

Seagull is a high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) development located in the Central North Sea on UK licence P1622 Block 22/29C, 17km south of the BP Operated ETAP Central Processing Facility (CPF). Proved plus probable gross reserves are estimated at 50 million boe.

The development will be tied back to the ETAP Central Processing Facility, partially utilising existing subsea infrastructure. Gas from the development will come onshore at the CATS processing terminal at Teesside, while oil will come onshore through the Forties Pipeline System to the Kinneil Terminal, Grangemouth.

Neptune is the operator of Seagull and has a 35 per cent equity interest. Its joint venture partners are BP with 50 per cent and JAPEX with 15 per cent.